For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.
Parallel translations
- WEB For there is not a word on my tongue, but, behold, Yahweh, you know it altogether.
- KJV For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
- BSB Even before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, O LORD.
- NASB Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, Lord, You know it all.
- NLT You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Before David even speaks, God already knows his words completely.
Overview
God's knowledge anticipates David's speech, knowing each word before it is uttered. Nothing he says is unforeseen by the Lord. This profound omniscience calls believers to honest, reverent speech, knowing that the God who hears every word is the same God who speaks to us savingly through Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Heb 4:12–13For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- Ps 19:14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, Yahweh, my rock, and my redeemer.
- Ps 50:19–21“You give your mouth to evil. Your tongue frames deceit.
- Matt 12:35–37The good man out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings out evil things.
- Job 42:3You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ therefore I have uttered that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I didn’t know.
- Jas 1:26If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious while he doesn’t bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is worthless.
- Mal 3:13–16“Your words have been stout against me,” says Yahweh. “Yet you say, ‘What have we spoken against you?’
- Jer 29:23because they have done foolish things in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and have spoken words in my name falsely, which I didn’t command them. I am he who knows, and am witness,” says Yahweh.
- Job 42:6–8Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”
- Jas 3:2–10For in many things we all stumble. If anyone doesn’t stumble in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.
- Job 8:2“How long will you speak these things? Shall the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?
- Job 38:2“Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
- Zeph 1:12It will happen at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are settled on their dregs, who say in their heart, “Yahweh will not do good, neither will he do evil.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 139:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.